Dortmund Expose Arsenal's Defensive Issues

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Arsenal were left dejected following their Champions League opener on Tuesday at the hands of a dominant Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park. Conceding goals on either side of the interval, the Gunners' defensive problems were shown in full light.With Martin Debuchy sidelined after suffering a severe injury against Manchester City at the weekend, Arsene Wenger was forced to make significant changes ahead of the trip to Dortmund.After events transpired the opportunity presented itself to Héctor Bellerín. Joining Arsenal from Barcelona's academy, Wenger saw it as a safe bet to play him. While others knew it would be risky playing someone with a lack of experience and throwing them straight into the deep end of the Champions League, he vanquished all doubts.The problem wasn't Hector Bellerin, though. He was one of Arsenal's best performers standing out from a starting 11 that really underperformed in their Champions League opening. Arsenal's full-back on the other side was Kieran Gibbs. But, this time it wasn't they youngsters out defending wide, it came down to the experienced tandem of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, who had been steadily building some defensive resolve in Arsenal's back four.Ciro Immobile scored a crucial goal on the stroke of half time to put the yellows ahead. Defending was unstructured and shambolic to say the least, allowing Dortmund's new man to surge forward then beat Sczcesny. It wasn't really a case of luck, but he just pounced on Arsenal's lack of organization.

GIF: Immobile scores for Dortmund

Should that be acceptable in a tournament of Europe's elite? Absolutely not.

Immobile first is not closed down effectively despite being surrounded by four players when he gets the ball. Koscielny decides to take him forward, allowing Immobile to dash out wide and get the shot off.

Arsenal were already severely disadvantaged when it was a two-on-one due to their lack of urgency to clear the ball and challenge Immobile. Despite this they still could have dealt with it like this...

That would have certainly made things harder for Immobile. Now with the defence down it was on to Sczcesny...

A lack of communication as it ricocheted to the nearby defender and opened a path for Immobile's shot.

With more communication Koscielny would have been able to block it possible, while it still could have been saved by the keeper but maybe that's a tad too critical.

1-0 down, half time. Dejected and the complexion of the game was drastically changed. Did Arsenal stick to a fresh gameplan and organised defending?

Sczcesny misjudged to rush out, and it was simply put away for Aubameyang.It cut them right down the middle as Aubameyang picked up between Mertesacker and Koscielny. He even stumbled but had enough time to regain composure and hit it past Koscielny who attempted to block on the line.For one ball to really open things up is worrying, how could they let their guard down so much to Dortmund?It seems to be a common trend nowadays, defences are getting a little less brittle and becoming the weak point, what does this hold for Arsenal?A change of tactics for one and a strong response, or Europe could be a very hostile place for the Gunners.More Champions League coverage